© Leck Ramazan/ HI
The Phase 4 – Leave no one behind! Kick-Off Meeting in Nakivale Refugee Settlement in Uganda marked a major milestone in expanding the project’s reach beyond Kampala and Kyaka II. The workshop, held on 2nd April 2025, served as the official introduction of the LNOB 4 project to field-level partners, providing a space for dialogue, learning, and joint planning.
The meeting began with welcoming remarks from the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), followed by an introduction to the Phase 4 – LNOB project by Handicap International / Humanity & Inclusion (HI)’s Inclusive Humanitarian Action Specialist. The presentation highlighted the project’s objectives, structure, and expected results for Phase 4 (2025–2027), emphasizing the goal of advancing disability-inclusive humanitarian coordination through technical support, capacity building, and localization.
Participants were particularly engaged in understanding how LNOB 4 builds upon the successes of previous phases, especially the operationalization of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Guidelines on Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Humanitarian Action, and how Uganda’s participation has evolved to include new geographic areas like Nakivale.
The session further delved into the role of the Persons with Specific Needs Sub-Working Group (PSN SWG) as a coordination mechanism to address the needs of persons with disabilities and older persons. Discussions underscored the need for a unified approach to strengthen inclusion in service delivery. Partners recognized common gaps such as weak data systems, limited collaboration between sectors, and inadequate engagement of persons with disabilities in program design.
Interactive discussions revealed a strong consensus that disability inclusion is not only a human rights imperative but also a practical necessity for effective humanitarian action. Partners shared experiences from their sectors, with the World Food Programme (WFP) highlighting challenges in tracking food assistance to households with persons with disabilities, while Medical Teams International (MTI) and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) emphasized the need for inclusive infrastructure within health and education facilities.
The presence of Humanity & Inclusion (HI)’s Regional Programme Director and Geographical Director added value to the discussions. Their engagement provided strategic reassurance of HI’s commitment to supporting Nakivale partners through technical guidance and long-term accompaniment. They emphasized that the Phase 4 – LNOB approach is not to create new structures but to strengthen existing coordination mechanisms and embed inclusion in all stages of the humanitarian program cycle.
By the end of the meeting, participants had developed a shared understanding of Phase 4 – LNOB objectives, structure, and collaboration modalities. Commitments were made to integrate disability inclusion in ongoing activities, share data, and participate in capacity-building sessions. The positive energy and momentum from the workshop signaled a strong foundation for the rollout of inclusive humanitarian programming in Nakivale.